Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his capacity as chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), on Thursday said the recent unemployment statistics should prompt the Council to reconsider its role in mobilising various stakeholders and social partners to develop skills that meet the needs of the South African economy.

Speaking during the HRDC meeting, in Johannesburg, he said it was taking place after the “harsh reality” was revealed that the unemployment rate climbed once again, to 33.2%, meaning one-third of the workforce was sitting without a job, the majority of whom were youth, women, and marginalised groups.

“We must acknowledge that the crisis of youth unemployment is particularly severe among young people not in employment, education, or training – the NEET cohort. According to Statistics South Africa’s first-quarter release of 2025, 34% of all youth aged 15 to 24 – more than 3.5-million young people – are disconnected from both the labour market and the education system,” he said.

He said the South African school system was finding it challenging to cultivate the skills required for a globalised, knowledge-driven economy.

He acknowledged that education and skills development were essential for productive employment and economic prosperity, noting it was imperative that a more cohesive strategy between businesses and educational institutions saw to the creation of the skills needed for the success of the economy.

Mashatile noted HRDC’s role in addressing youth unemployment by improving workforce skills, creating jobs, and fostering economic growth.

“…this is indeed an entrenched challenge that directly calls for the council’s innovation and leadership. The future of the youth of South Africa is in our hands, and we must be radical in securing it,” he said.

He said the council should interrogate itself on the effectiveness of the country’s education and training in responding to the social and economic development agenda.

“This includes how responsive we are in addressing quality issues in education, the skills development pipeline, and the shortages of skills in priority areas. We must adopt a proactive stance and address the disparity between labour supply and demand. We must create a labour market that will effectively create employment opportunities for young people, including those with no skills,” he said.

He wants the council to address unemployment and limited skills through a multi-pronged approach, focused on education and skills development, entrepreneurship, and public employment programmes.

It must also improve education, align with market needs, support small businesses, and invest in public work programmes.

Mashatile said it was mandatory to encourage job creation by investing in employment-generating sectors, particularly by supporting the growth of small enterprises, which he said were pivotal to economic expansion.

“…by fostering teamwork and a cohesive effort among government, business, and the training sector, we can effectively reverse the current situation, reduce unemployment, and establish a robust and resilient economy,” he stated.

He noted the oversight and execution of the Human Resource Development Strategy (HRDS), which he said must be prioritised. The HRDS sought to enhance South Africa’s human capital through education, training, and skills development.

“Through the HRDS, which also aligns with the National Development Plan, we can work together to address skills gaps, enhance employability, and reduce poverty and inequality,” he said.

Mashatile acknowledged South Africa’s prowess in policy making but said some of these policies were not as effective in the areas needed to transform the lives of South Africans and the youth.

He said the HRDC had to be “diligent and quick” in implementing its agenda of upskilling young people to respond to the global challenges that confronted the country.

The HRDC had to recognise that, in addition to high unemployment rates, there was a deficiency in the advanced skills necessary for economic growth, he added.